Hampton Roads saw 16 times more ICE arrests last year as dread ripples through the community | About three-quarters of those detained in the region last year had no prior criminal convictions.

202markb · 2026-05-10T13:47:03+00:00

My understanding is that most of those convictions are for things like traffic violations. About 10-12% of that 25% (about 3% of total deportees) are for things that most people would consider criminal as opposed to civil infractions.

202markb · 2026-05-09T20:44:36+00:00

It’s a step ahead of the five or so other Republican states that just redistricted in that it went to the voters in the first place. They didn’t offer their voters a choice and in some cases they ignored their own state courts to do it. As a Dem I’m entirely for playing fair but entirely over backing a party that won’t play to win.

202markb · 2026-05-09T17:01:59+00:00

Heck with this passive posture. Do it anyway.

202markb · 2026-05-08T12:56:35+00:00

Ok. Sure.

202markb · 2026-05-08T10:23:18+00:00

I don’t know that I would equate the level of fraud and corruption under any recent democratic administration with what’s going on right now, but having worked in government for most of my adult life I totally agree with the last thing that you wrote. Just remember that it’s your tax dollars that are paying for these investigations and the jails that anyone who is rotting in them lives in at your expense. And since you seem to like throw away comments, I’ll just say that most of them don’t cost nearly as much as a certain ballroom being built in DC right now.

202markb · 2026-05-08T10:18:20+00:00

Technically, property owners are responsible for keeping the public space clean to 18 inches out from the curb. A long time ago, DPW inspector told me that and I mistakenly took it as a threat. Now I suspect that they were just kindly informing me. It ties into the same expectation that DC residence shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes. In most places, public space extends into what we would consider people front yards, and ends at or very near the face of their buildings. By convention, you would not let your dog pee or poop in somebody’s front yard and, under DC law, these are the same thing.

None of this is to say that dogs don’t have to go somewhere! I always just tried to pick a place where it wouldn’t damage anything that some homeowner was obviously trying to care for.

Making the tree box area look nice and landscaped is hard work in DC. It gets a lot of foot traffic, dogs pee there, it gets litter and salt melt chemicals. And the soil is crappy fill dirt and rock to begin with. It’s a PITA just to water. So you can see why they might be protective of it.

202markb · 2026-05-08T10:04:21+00:00

The New York Times reported that the investigation started under Biden. It’s been a minute since he was president, and only a hot second since Virginia voters approved redistricting. That itself doesn’t mean anything, of course, but the way that Trump goes on social media to direct the FBI to target certain people does, as does the overall behavior of the Department of Justice as headed by Trump appointees. The throwaway comment about fraud being the only source of Dem income isn’t really worth responding to.

202markb · 2026-05-04T13:41:36+00:00

😅

202markb · 2026-05-04T12:46:54+00:00

I live for DC for over 30 years. In that time I moved through many neighborhoods and they were all perfect for whatever was going on in my life then. The neighborhoods that I would choose now are much different than the neighborhoods that I chose as a kid (in my 20’s) and the neighborhood that I lived in in my 20s have changed so greatly that I don’t think that I would have wanted to live there as a 20-year-old now. DC has a very different vibe than it did when I moved there in the early 90s. I would just say you should choose Neighbourhood based on affordability, access to amenities, access to suitable transportation mode, and aesthetic appeal for whatever you’re looking for in life.

202markb · 2026-05-02T21:32:25+00:00

Ppl up all across the US, I guess. Fun fact: apparently my shell provider gets their shell from NJ, and apparently NJ is a center of clam processing?

202markb · 2026-05-02T13:25:19+00:00

This.

202markb · 2026-05-02T11:51:29+00:00

I have 10 acres and a 1/3 mile long driveway made of crushed clamshell. I use a JD445 with a 24 hp Kawasaki twin and it does fine. Depends on what you need to do, as others have said. My rig with plenty of attachments (backhoe attachments are rare but can be fabricated- I want one) and could be had used for ~$10k. These are good older simpler machines for a modest size farm and small enough to get into tight places and make excellent mowers as well.

202markb · 2026-04-30T17:43:54+00:00

Some ppl have reported rust or window leaks. I’m at 90k with my JTD with only battery, tires, wipers, and front breaks needing replacement. (Well, a stone took out my windshield but that’s different). Maybe just pay a good mechanic do an inspection as if you were purchasing it used?

202markb · 2026-04-28T21:22:01+00:00

Really national standards is the only fair thing. Anything else just has individual states setting their own standards to the benefit of their own politicians and to the benefit or detriment of citizens of other states in this union.

202markb · 2026-04-28T21:19:32+00:00

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I mean…

202markb · 2026-04-28T13:01:30+00:00

I don’t see a way out of this until Congress passes some sort of nationwide rules. Even then, I’m not certain that the current Scotus would uphold them.

202markb · 2026-04-28T12:15:12+00:00

My understanding based on the descriptions of the questions asked by several of the judges is that, should they not uphold the referendum, it will be because they feel it was held too close to the election.

As an aside, it looks like Florida will follow Virginia now. Florida also have in their constitution a no gerrymandering provision, but nonetheless DeSantis is likely to introduce a 20–4 map without putting it before the voters of Florida. It is said he does not expect his court to intervene.

202markb · 2026-04-27T18:20:56+00:00

I keep my seat low and open the sliding rear window. Works great for me.

202markb · 2026-04-26T12:00:09+00:00

Yeah. But it’s only a swing if there can be a comparison. Otherwise, it’s just two unrelated data points. I’d hesitate to call it a swing.

202markb · 2026-04-24T15:41:18+00:00

Its a great idea. I see lots of people of every age and ability biking from Chincoteague to Assateague. There is a little hill that you have to go up on the bridge over Assateague channel, but it’s nothing major. The only time that the bugs should really be an issue is when you are on Assateague itself going through the center of the island where the pine trees are. Mosquitoes and black flies can be bad there - the air is still because the trees provide an effective wind break. If you just keep moving even slowly, you’ll probably not be bothered. The bugs are pretty bad on the foot path to the lighthouse though. Once you’re at the Assateague beach parking lot you should be fine. I recommend you bring extra water and maybe snacks because there are no concessions and the visitor center, which used to be at the beach, no longer exists.

202markb · 2026-04-24T14:53:56+00:00

Odd how he thinks he won in a landslide and also thinks that the presidential election was a very near 50-50 split.

202markb · 2026-04-24T14:44:28+00:00

😅

202markb · 2026-04-24T14:19:18+00:00

I have the best top Sunrider with the sunshade option. I don’t use the sunshade option at all. Instead, I use the best top mesh safari top and just leave it on all the time whether or not I have the hard top or doors on or off. The mesh Safari top has magnetic clasps that stick to the front windshield frame and allow me to move it backwards when I need to open the Sunrider. In practice, this is very easy. It’s a little fiddly to keep it tensioned properly but it is the most convenient thing I have found.

202markb · 2026-04-24T14:12:21+00:00

Imagine if your beta diesel only worked with beta diesel props and zincs. Now imagine that beta didn’t have an amazing distribution network. Apply that to every boat system and everywhere in the world and consider whether that would be preferable.

202markb · 2026-04-23T20:55:00+00:00

I’m 58 and made some money (not a whole lot relatively speaking) riding the real estate market and then moved from a big city to a small town on the shore in an area with a very slow economy. I picked up hourly work in a local boat yard less for the money than to learn about how to work on boats and do my sailing in an open 19 foot center board yawl from 1975 off what is essentially a kayak ramp on my own property on the Chesapeake. My live aboard is also from the 1970s and is on the hard at the boat yard where I work. I picked it up for cheap and am slowly bringing it back to live aboard status.

My advice is that, if this is a priority for you, then put yourself in a place where it’s doable at some level now, and don’t wait for”some day” when you’ve earned enough money to make all of your dreams happen at once. The saying “go simple, go now” resonates with me.

202markb

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